Are you concerned about the recently announced cuts to staff and funding that support hiking and trails? Many of us feel that the government could be made more efficient. However, across-the-board cuts are not the answer, because they don’t distinguish between efficient spending and that which could be improved.
Tell Your Federal Representatives How You Feel About Preserving Funding For Hiking and Trails in Pennsylvania
Here is a guide to help you deliver your message effectively.
Tell Your Federal Representatives How You Feel About Preserving Funding For Hiking and Trails in Pennsylvania
Here is a guide to help you deliver your message effectively.
Step 1 – Develop Your Message
The most effective message is one that shows your passion and asks your legislators to take specific action. Avoid “canned” language because your legislator may not feel that it reflects a constituent’s personal feelings. However, it’s fine to take some standard language and personalize it to reflect your personal passion. Be sure to always include that you are their constiuent and where you are from.
With that in mind, we’ve prepared some talking points for you to use in crafting your message. We’ve developed a few versions of these, because we know our individual and club members have unique concerns. Please use your own voice and do not copy and paste.
The most effective message is one that shows your passion and asks your legislators to take specific action. Avoid “canned” language because your legislator may not feel that it reflects a constituent’s personal feelings. However, it’s fine to take some standard language and personalize it to reflect your personal passion. Be sure to always include that you are their constiuent and where you are from.
With that in mind, we’ve prepared some talking points for you to use in crafting your message. We’ve developed a few versions of these, because we know our individual and club members have unique concerns. Please use your own voice and do not copy and paste.
- Federal Cuts Impacting the Appalachian Trail (link)
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Step 2 – Identify Your Federal Legislators
Senate:
Senator John Fetterman
142 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
DC Phone: (202) 224-4254
email: form at https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/contact/
More contact information at https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/
Senator David McCormick
702 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
DC Phone: (202) 224-6324
email: form at https://www.mccormick.senate.gov/contact/More contact information at https://www.mccormick.senate.gov/
Congressional Representatives:
The U.S. House website has a handy page you can use to find your Representative using your zip code. It is at https://ziplook.house.gov/htbin/findrep_house
- At the federal level, Pennsylvania is represented by two Senators and 17 Congressional representatives.
- Deliver your message to both Senators and your local Congressional represenative.
Senate:
Senator John Fetterman
142 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
DC Phone: (202) 224-4254
email: form at https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/contact/
More contact information at https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/
Senator David McCormick
702 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
DC Phone: (202) 224-6324
email: form at https://www.mccormick.senate.gov/contact/More contact information at https://www.mccormick.senate.gov/
Congressional Representatives:
The U.S. House website has a handy page you can use to find your Representative using your zip code. It is at https://ziplook.house.gov/htbin/findrep_house
Step 3 – Deliver Your Message
Here are some tips to help you get your message out effectively.
Here are some tips to help you get your message out effectively.
- Should I send my message by email, postcard, or phone? The short answer is that any will work. You should use the one with which you are most comfortable.
- Who will receive my message? In all likelihood, your message will be directed to a staff member, not the legislator. However, the staff member receiving the message will usually prepare a summary of your contact, and the legislator will see the summary.
- How should my message be delivered? Come to the point quickly. Mention that you are a constituent of the legislator. Explain why the funding and staff cuts affect you personally and what you want the legislator to do. Avoid personal attacks on the legislator, other officials, and so on, as these are unlikely to be effective.
- Will my message do any good? Legislators are bombarded with messages from lobbyists, donors, other officials, and so on. However, they repeatedly tell us that the messages they care most about are those coming from the voters who have elected them and who might vote for someone else.
- Lastly, THANK YOU for doing this!! Your voice is essential, and it WILL make a difference.
Keystone Trails Association works to provide, protect, preserve, and promote recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. If you are a maintainer of public lands with hiking trails, a partner organization of Keystone Trails Association, or a trail-maintaining club, we want to hear from you to better understand how these impacts are impacting the Keystone State. Please fill out this short form.